So Wicked is the latest in Melissa Marino's A Bad Behavior series. You should definitely read the previous books so you know the players.

Melissa Marino has pulled off the near impossible, turning a hated character into a likable one. I almost dreaded reading this book because I didn't think there was anyway I was going to like Alexis and felt Marshall was no friend of Aaron's if he was going to have any sort of relationship with Alexis. But one of the reasons I enjoy reading Melissa Marino is because there is so much depth in her characters and she has you hoping that there are second chances and redemption in this story.

I do love the forbidden aspect of this book because let's face it, the passion is always off the charts. Alexis and Marshall definitely had the heat and passion. And sometimes when you have to hide the attraction it just amps the level of chemistry a couple has.

This is such a great series and I always enjoy reading Melissa Marino!
~Nikki

YES!!!  More Bad Behavior!!!  Have I mentioned before in my reviews how much I love Melissa Marino’s writing?!?!  2017 is so her year!  With her debut of So Twisted (Bad Behavior #1) in 2016 to So Screwed (Bad Behavior #2) earlier this year, Melissa is on a roll!!

Let me say this, I highly recommend that you read this series in order!  You will understand once you get to So Wicked.  This series comes back full circle with So Wicked.

Alexis left her ex-husband and daughter behind to start a new life.  Marshall Rawlings is ready to start his new life and launch an upscale cocktail bar.  That is until Alexis comes into his life.  Did I mention that Alexis is Marshall’s best friend’s ex-wife?!?!  Oh, and did I mention that Marshall’s best friend is Aaron (from book 1 – So Twisted)…. Let the fun begin…

As I have said before, Melissa’s writing is fantastic!  I am in love with it!!!  Melissa, please, pretty please write more!  You have a fan for life!!!

Go!  Run!  And start reading Melissa’s Bad Behavior series.  It is the perfect series to get lost in.  You will thank me, I promise.

I really loved this Melissa Marino story. The hero was alpha and the heroine was sassy. I felt they were well matched and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Full review to follow shortly.

I can think of a lot of people who would really enjoy this book. But it just wasn't my thing. There were a couple of things about the main characters that .. Well turned me off.

This is the third book of this season.  It is the best.  

Lexie left her baby and husband.  Nobody knew why--or did they?  Six years later, she finds herself doing business with her ex-husband's best friend.  Sparks fly--both good and bad.  Then, of course, they fall in love.  They keep the relationship private.  Her ex-husband happens upon them in a compromising position.  He is angry.  He wants answers.

The jump from hate to love was a little abrupt.  Other than that, this book was amazing.  The ending was perfect.  I finished this book in public, and I was laughing and crying to the confusion of all around me.  I recommend this.

4 stars

I really enjoyed reading So Wicked, it was one of those books you didn't want to put down.

The writing is well done, Alexis and Marshall were complicated characters that grew on me, they were entertaining and the chemistry between was smoking!

Overall, So Wicked is a good addition to the Bad Behavior series and I highly recommend it.

*A big thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy*

Off-limits romance with an emotional undertone between a woman and her ex-husband’s best friend

As a big fan of the previous two books in this series, I was a little apprehensive going into this off-limits romance book given the history of the characters (not compulsory to read previous books but having read book 1 in series does help understand bigger picture). However, I was pleasantly surprised and could get on board with the characters as this illicit romance weaves through tangles and webs of past issues and heartaches to make this an intriguing read. 

Told from dual points of view, Alexis and Marshall have an attraction but it’s complicated by Alexis’ messy past with Marshall’s best friend. However, through the emotional rollercoaster journey both go on through in the book, it was clear to see how both characters have evolved from when first introduced and to watch them face up to the past. Being truly honest, it does take a little time to fully warm up to both characters but Alexis in particular; the back history revelations do help a little to warm up and understand her actions and emotions. 

While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone with a HEA but for fans of the series, it’s nice to catch up with familiar faces and how they were worked into the story where the book is rounded off in a way that’s fitting of all characters. 

If you enjoy an illicit style romance, definitely give this a read.

So Wicked takes place some time after the events of book two, it follows Aaron's best friend and business partner, Marshall, from Chicago to California opening a brand new bar. Marshall's idea to make the place stand out and be unique was to offer desserts that complimented the drinks he never expected the genius baker who made the delicious confections (I have to admit I would love to try some of them) is none other than Alexis, formerly known as Lexie, Aaron's ex-wife who abandoned her infant daughter. I didn't know what to expect with Alexis but her story when she finally comes out and admits everything to Marshall is so emotional and heart wrenching, she did have a good excuse but it could have been handled differently. This one is probably one of the easiest reads of three and Marshal is definitely the sexiest. 

Once Marshall and Alexis get over the initial shock of oh god it's you and the anger that was there, they find themselves trying to ignore the attraction. Marshall has been attracted to her from the beginning but out of respect for Aaron's feeling on Lexie he never made his move. Even now his business relationship, brother like friendship with Aaron is keeping Marshall from acting on this attraction. Alexis has grown so much since she first meet Aaron and Marshal. Alexis is surprised to find the clean cut college boy has turned into a tattooed foul mouthed bad boy. Alexis liked Marshal before but now she finds him down right irresistible. Alexis however is dealing with not only her feelings for Marshall but also trying to overcome the guilt of her past. Only when they give in to each other do they both start dealing with it. Marshal however never told Aaron that Alexis was here let alone started a relationship with her so when he does show up unexpectedly tempers flare and harsh words are spoken.

Overall, as emotional as this book is it's probably one of the most emotionally grown up books with how they reacted and dealt with the problems. I liked that.

So Wicked is a tale that begins in irony and ends with forgiveness. Alexis and Aaron share a common thread. Alexis' ex is Aaron's best friend. Alexis is far from perfect. Her past is littered with the ghosts of her mistakes, but despite actions to the contrary, everyone deserves a second chance. She's still trying to earn hers. Aaron represents her worst fears and her greatest temptation. He's seen her at her worst. Judging and hating Lexie, doesn't stop him from, wanting her. Can he forgive her past, so that they can build a future?

Ms. Marino accomplished an epic feat. She took a character that was beyond redemption and reinvented her into a woman of strength. Her flaws were great, but her determination to become a better person made for a courageous, rocky and taboo filled road. So Wicked shows the bravery of two strong women. Gifted author, Melissa Marino for triumphantly winning over a skeptic like me. Lastly, Alexis for facing he demons and healing her soul.

So Wicked by Melissa Marino is the third book in her Bad Behavior series. This book was my favorite of the three so far. Told in dual POV between Marshall and Alexis, this story - oh man!

Marshall is the friend of Aaron and Abel. He goes into partnership with Aaron for their new nightclub in California. He relocates from Chicago and starts getting the bar, Ginger, off the ground and ready to open. It's classy and trendy with a laid-back California vibe and cocktail infusions. When his second in command sets up a meeting with a local baker and owner of Tipsy Treats, baked goods with an alcohol infused theme, he is floored when he meets the owner.

Alexis/Lexie is the mother of Delilah. we learned in the past two books that she just up and left them with barely a word and then disappeared. So she has been someone unliked due to the narrative of the past two books. For the author to make her the main character in this book was a bold and beautiful thing. She is someone so completely different than what I perceived and when she realizes that the owner of the bar is not just Marshall, but her ex-husband Aaron, things get hairy.

The full-circle feeling of this book was so much better having read the previous two. The way Marshall and Alexis denied their feelings/fought their feelings/gave into their feelings and THEN had to answer for them to Aaron and Delilah. Amazing. Enjoy!

So Wicked chronicles the romance of a truly forbidden couple, an ex-wife and best-friend, and the destruction she left behind when she fled.  

The interesting part of both of these characters is how much they have changed in the years since they have last seen each other. Both abandoning high paying business oriented jobs and chasing their dreams, they feel they can see pieces of their old selves in each other but are so different then who they were.  These differences allow each of them to look at the one in a new light, and their attraction to the new versions of themselves cannot be contained. Sure there is an attempt to stay loyal and not hurt others, but when thrown into situations where one reacts and not thinks, these two act on feelings and desires.  As a reader, I didn't fault them for this or for chasing what make them happy.

This plot line is intriguing. Alexis causes a lot of damage when she flees, and realistically Marshall should want nothing to do with her.  Business dealings, however, force his hand, but watching them both struggle with their feelings while trying to respect and honor the past is difficult, leaving the reader torn between wanting these two to go for it and holding back, similar to that of the characters. Readers will appreciate how the author develops the story and resolves it.  She gives Marshall and Alexis their HEA while also honoring the other characters and the ending she gave them in previous books.

I found So Wicked to be well-written, engaging, and unique in the angle of the story she took. She is definitely an author I would read again, and this story is definitely worth a read.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the Blurb of So Wicked I just knew I had to read this  story ,so  when I got the chance to read this book early I was so  excited  and I  dived into this story as soon as I possibly could  and  I loved it!

In this book we follow Alexis and Marshall and lets just  say when these two  meet again  its not  love  at  first  site with hearts and rainbows , you see  Alexis    left her husband ( well now  ex husband ) and her child  six years ago  and Marshall  is her  ex husband best  friend so  to say that this makes things  complicated  is   putting it  mildly, however Marshall is opening up  a new bar and  Alexis is a  baker who makes  excellent   baked goods with alcohol  in them   so  they put  aside there  difference for the most part and work together ,however as they closer   and closer   that  attraction brewing  between these two  becomes something that neither of them can ignore . I love the romance in this book, there where so many  times where I would be swooning over these two  , it was  sexy , it  was fun and  at the  same time  heartwarming.We got moments  between them that made  me want to fan my self and at the same time we also got to see them open up to each other  and  be vulnerable and I loved that .I felt  that Melissa Marino wrote  a perfect story for these characters , I love  how everything  came full circle  , I love  that  everyone got the  happiest ending possible . This book was just  so so wickedly good( do you see what I did there? lol )

So Wicked was a sexy ,  emotional , heartwarming contemporary romance and I cannot wait to  see what  Melissa Marino writes next .If you love all these things in your stories I  suggest   you pick up a copy as soon as possible .

Received in exchange for a honest review.

I so wanted to not like Alexis but dangnabit I couldn’t  She was fiesty, snarky, smart and fun. After what she did to Aaron and Delilah you want to growl at her. She messed up Aaron. but as we learn things aren’t always as they seem and in this book we see what really was going on. 

Marshall is Aaron’s bestfriend and at one time was friends with Alexis so when she ends up coming into his bar to do business it was a shocker to say the least. I loved the initial reaction he had. He was understandable in his growliness. Overall though Marshall is a great character and so loyal and caring. He fought his feelings for Alexis from the beginning due to his friendship with Aaron. so when he finally does give in to the attraction and feelings for Alexis you know he didn’t do it lightly or without knowing that Alexis was more than a quick romp in the sheets. 

Seeing the conflicted feelings of both Alexis and Marshall for each other was endearing. It shows the respect for the past and Aaron they have. It also shows they have grown since last seeing one another. It didn’t help their disposition with others but it does show their maturity. What I loved is we got to see the thoughts of both through the author writing in both their POVs. We see them be conflicted and work through it. We see the indecision of Alexis and how scared she was to open up to Marshall and we see how hard it was on Marshall to keep Alexis from Aaron. 

The story had some fun snarky moments. Some great banter and really seductive moments. It shows us the deep bonds of friendship and how serious feelings must be to risk it all. We see the story of second chances and finding the one you are meant to be with and fighting for that. Marshall and Alexis are both strong stubborn characters who grew in the story and who loved one another fiercely. This is their seductive and alluring story and how Alexis finally comes to peace with her past and lets Marshall in and finds love and a future with him.

so wicked is the most emotional of the bad behavior novels, in it marshall rawlins, aaron's best friend, and alexis bell, aaron's ex-wife meet again in san diego when alexis's bakery is unwittingly contracted as the baked goods supplier for ginger, marshall and aaron's new bar. marshall is unbelievably pissed to see alexis again, especially since she seems to be doing so well and all he can think of is aaron's heartbreak and the fact that delilah is growing up without her mother.

but there's always been another side to that story. and alexis lives with the consequences of her choices daily. the most salient is that if she had stayed with aaron she would have killed herself. she believes that being out of delilah's life is the best way to keep delilah safe. even if that feeling is completely irrational and untrue, it's alexis's reality.

at first, marshall isn't willing to see that alexis might have had her reasons for leaving. but this deep-seated attraction to her is an inconvenience that doesn't seem to be dissipating. and the more he finds he can't stay away, the more open he is to hearing alexis's story. when he does finally listen, he understands even if he doesn't really agree. and when he gives in to the attraction that has sparked between them, he makes the choice that he's not going to tell aaron. after all not only is he betraying his best friend by becoming friendly with his ex, he's making it even worse by sleeping with her.

aaron will be their biggest crisis. both marshall and alexis are adults who know exactly what they are feeling. they've experienced loss. they've made impossible choices. they've survived. and so when they fall in love, it's for keeps. together they'll keep their doubts and their crazy at bay. as always, communication is key. and both marshall and alexis are upfront and plainspoken, which makes them perfect for each other.

this series closes out on a high note. and manages to redeem alexis in a way that really works. her choices might not seem fathomable, but at the same time you get it. she didn't leave aaron and delilah behind because she didn't love them or she didn't care. she left them behind because she had no choice. because the alternative would have been worse.

I read the first two books in the series but I couldn't force myself to continue. It's nothing against the author but her writing style isn't for me. I don't think it would be fair to read this book and possibly give it a low rating when I had mixed feelings about the other two books. Thank you for allowing me to receive review copies of each books.

This has to be the best book so far in this series. 

I absolutely loved Marshall and Alexis. I can't say I loved them from the beginning though. Without giving away the story, Alexis is hiding from her past and the things that she is hiding from hit me hard at first. You read about some of these where it is generally not the heroine. However, I could not be happier that I gave this book a chance. From The moment Marshall and Alexis interact I knew j was going to love them. When things seem too good to be true, they usually are, but I couldn't wait to see how these two made it through the challenges.

This is an emotional, steamy, funny, and sweet story. I simply could not put it down. There is no doubt that Marshall and Alexis are my favorite couple. I can't wait to see what's next.

~ Jessica

I just finished the third book in the Bad Behavior Series by Melissa Marino, who is an author I have fallen in love after reading this series. I was offered to review this book after requesting it on Net Galley. 
RELEASE DATE IS MAY 7.... TOMORROW.
BLURB:
"Fate has a wicked sense of humor.Alexis's new life was made up of two things: baking and hiding the details of her old life in Chicago. The first allowed her to finally find some happiness. And the second is about to be destroyed by a man who knows all her secrets. Marshall Rawlins was prepared to do anything when he moved cross-country to launch an upscale cocktail bar---anything except work with Alexis, his best friend and business partner's ex-wife. Adding Alexis's boozy-baked goods to his menu would be a major feat for his bar. But striking a deal means getting in bed with the enemy.Battling between distrust and desire, Alexis and Marshall give in to a passionate, forbidden affair. They know if they're discovered the consequences would be bad---it's just hard to remember that when being together feels so, so good.PRAISE FOR MELISSA MARINO:"I was totally blown away.... It was one of those rare reads that has everything I love in a book: a spitfire heroine, a swoon worthy hero, a captivating plot, and an unforgettable love story. Marino's ability to transcribe emotions left me spellbound. She has a reader for life!"--Tara Sue Me, New York Times bestselling author of the Submissive series on So Twisted."

When I was given this book i couldn't really read it before reading the other 2 in the series..(I'm anal like that).
This was great and there was so much emotion. Not what i expected at all, and the characters were amazing. 
Can I just say kudos Melissa for successfully portraying each character. 
Marshal is a successful business owner and manager of bars which he co owns with his best friend, Aaron. Marshal had to relocate to California for the opening of his new bar Ginger,and in getting ready for the grand opening he had to do something special that will make customers keep coming and what brings the customers in better than liquored sweets. yep you read correctly alcohol infused desserts. Meeting the owner of the bakery was supposed to be a simple business transaction he assumed, but you know what they say about assumptions....... this is a quote i never know how to finish.

Alexis Mathews, Aaron's ex-wife, his best friend's ex-wife waltzed into his life and so much emotions are unfolded.
To do the right thing, or do the wrong thing? Doing something so wrong never actually felt so good as falling in love with you best friend's ex wife.
We unfold the truth about why Alexis abandoned her husband and child. This is Alexis's story. 

 Melissa Marina successfully drags out empathy, compassion, heart break, anger, and so much more withing this novel that it truly reminds you that everyone has so much deep layers, and to never really judge without getting the full story. 
" Save them from what?""Me!"I was starting to detach... "
I loved this book. Anything that tugs at my heart strings is an instant yes. Let's also not brush aside the sexual tension between these two. 

Hero(s) rating: 3.5 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 4 stars
Storytelling rating: 4 stars
Story ending rating: 3.5 stars
Emotion: 4 stars.
writing: 3.4 stars

Marshall has undertaken opening a new type of bar in San Luis Obispo, along with the much talked about sweets from a local baker being the focal point of new drink and dessert pairings. Unfortunately, when finally coming face to face with the baker he has entered into business with, he couldn't be more shocked at who walks in the door.

Alexis has completely changed her life since Marshall once knew her. Once a high powered investment banker, wife and mother, she left her entire former life behind and had never planned on revisiting it again.

With an unwanted and crazy attraction pulling them, Alexis and Marshall are wary of each other, and their old wounds have a way of popping up again and again.

I enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic and the premise of the story was interesting and different. It has to be incredibly difficult for the author to build Alexis' character into someone you want good things for, but she definitely grows on you within the chapters of the story.

I wasn't feeling the attraction between Marshall and Alexis all that much, but the story itself kept me entertained and the characters themselves were very real and dealing with some deep issues, that it did not detract much from the story as a whole. 

This was a deep, well written read, about redemption and starting over, and I loved how the characters come together in the end for a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

How the author figured out how to make a character who we all disliked ... likeable shows real talent. She paired her with the unlikely past Best man of her wedding and business partner of her ex! 
Both main characters were looking for a new start in business and each held the key for the other...
Deal with the Devil anyone...
But in the end it all came together with each of them realizing then belonged together.

The Bad Behavior series is a thought-provoking, emotional and romantic series, and Melissa Marino is an very talented author. Her writing truly gives life to the feelings and emotions on the pages, and the reader becomes a part of the story experiencing everything along the way. So Wicked is tough for me to read, but this is testament to Ms. Marino's ability to make fiction feel like reality. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.